Theatrical stage



Dec. 3 1925. 1,564,272

W. E. PRICE THEATRICAL STAGE Filed, Oct. '7- 1922 3 Sheets5heet 1Way/7M5 E765 H A TTORNIS Dec. 8,1925.

W. E. PRICE THBATRICAL STAGE Filed 001;. 7. 1 22 3 SheetsSheet 2 11vVENTOR I/MA/HM f. P/P/as g A TTORNE Y W. E. PRICE THEATRICAL STAGE 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. '7 1923 11v VENTOR #744 n9 5 P/P/(E A TToRR/Ey Patented Dec. 8, 19250 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

WILLIAM E. PRICE, OF HARTSDALE, NEW YORK.

'rirun'rnrcat s'raen.

Application filed October 7, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM E. Peron, citizen of the United States,residing at Hartsdale, in the county of Westchester and State of NewYork, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in TheatricalStages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to theatrical stages, scene hangers for theatreprosceniums and particularly to that type which is collapsible for thepurpose of transportation.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an easilyassembled, rigid and strong, though readily collapsible framework, onwhich any desired stage equipment, such as lighting devices, curtains,drops, wings, flats, borders, and the like may be supported.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a completeportable scenery frame, adjustable to any size within the limits of thedevice, and capable of being set up in any suitable space, such as inthe open air, on a larger platform, in a church or other place where itmay be desired to give a public or private entertainment such as a hallor lecture room, and where permanent stage accessories are toocumbersome, eX- pensive or unsightly to maintain.

' Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

lhe invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which thescope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possibleillustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a support or framework embodyingmy invention showing the lights and wings is place;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view and partial vertical section taken onthe line 22 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section and front view of a portion of thesupport, showing the means for supporting one of the drops;

Fig. '1 is a front view of my improved clamping unit showing the sameadapted for Serial No. 592,933.

use in connection with a frame member of small diameter;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same as it appears adjusted to a framemember of arger diameter; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling member adjustablyconnecting the parts of each of the diagonal braces of the frame.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I employ preferablyhollow, cylindrical, pipe members for the various parts of the frame,for the purpose of strength and lightness and for ease in adjustment,collapsibility and assembly. The corner uprights or posts 10 of theframe a e suitably mounted in the bases 11, and are extensible by reasonof the extension member 12, which is capabl of being fastened to themain portion of the upright by means of the reducing nipple 13 fastenedto the member 10, and the set screw 14. All of the extensible members ofthe frame have similar extension members, reducing nipples and setscrews for adjusting said members to the desired length.

The clamping unit (see Figs. l and 5) for adjustably and removablyconnecting the extension 12 to the horizontal front and rear topmembers, and for connecting the various other members together, will nowbe described.

Said clamping unit comprises the gripping members 15 and 16, connectedby means of the bolt 17 and the thumb nut 18 at the end-0f said bolt,which is secured to the member 15 substantially at right angles theretoand near the ends of said gripping members by means such as a pin 19.One extremity 20 of the member 15 may be removably pivoted to the crossarm 22 of the T-shaped member 16 by means of the bolt 21 passing throughany one of the apertures 23, 24, 25 or 26 of the arm 22, depending onthe diameter of the cylindrical member to which said clamping unit is tobe attached. The other ertremity of the member 15 terminates in a nut.27 threaded to receive the threaded end 28 of one of the frame memhere,while the inner surface of the V-shaped member 15 is serrated to formthe teeth 29, a portion 30 between said teeth substantially at the pointof the V being left comparatively smooth for the purpose of receivingthe frame members of small diameter (such as 31) as shown in Fig. 4. Onone side of the gripping portion of the member 16 are formed the teeth32, adapted to engage frame members such as 33 of comparatively largediameters, as shown in-Fig. 5, while the opposite side of said grippingmember 16 is notched to form a pair of gripping teeth 34 for the purposeof engaging. frame members 31 of small diameter as shown in Fig. 4. Asuitable slot 16 is made in the extremity of the gripping portion of themember 16 for allowing the removal of the bolt 1? therefrom withoutentirely removing the nut 18 from said bolt, the member 15 pivotingabout the bolt 21 in the removal operation.

It will be seen that this clamping unit may be used to connect the framemembers together at any point of one of said members, and at any angle,as where diagonal cross braces are fastened to the horizontal andvertical members of the frame. It will be seen further that attachmentand removal of the clamps may be quickly and easily effected.

Hereinafter, wherever a clamping unit or clamp is mentioned, a unit ofthe type above described is preferably to be used. Continuing with thedescription of the frame, the extension member 12- is threaded into the,nut member 2'? of the clamping unit 85, in which is gripped the fronttop horizontal member 36 at any desired point thereof. Said top member36 may be supported by mean's'of a clamping unit 38 removably fastenedto a suitable bracket 37 secured to the stage wall, said clamping'unitbeing screwed into the extension member 39 of the top front member 36.My improved frame is substantially symmetrical on each side of thecenter line thereof. and a description of one side will, therefore.suffice forboth.

The clamping units 41, removably attached to the front top bar 86, areused to secure the rearwardlv extending extensible members 40 to saidbar 86'substantially at right angles thereto. Within reach from thefloor is disposed'a rcarwardly extending and extensible bar 42 suitablysecured to one of each of the frontand rear uprights 10 by means of theclamping units 43. The extensible portion 44 of said bar is connected tothe main portion 44 by means of the reducing nipples 45 and set screw 46similar to nipple 13 and set screw 14. A suitable cleat47 is provided onsaid bar 42 whereon control, ropes: wires, or cables mav be fastened,when desired.

For bracingthe' frame against sway in any direction. suitablecollapsible, removable braces, disposed diagonally of the other framemembers, are provided. The rear extensible brace 48 is secured at therear of the frame-work to the uprights 10 by means fasten the parts ofthe brace together in the required positions thereof. Similar removableand ad ustable corner braces 53, con

neeted to a front upright post 10 by the clamp 55 and a suitable elbow,and connected to the top front bar 36 by the clamp 56 and another elbow,serve to maintain the parts in position, and to brace the frame againstcertain of the stresses therein, while cross braces 54 and 5? extendingfrom the rear to the front uprights, serve similarly to prevent movementor collapse rearwar'dly or forwardly.

A lower extensible front bar 36' is substituted instead of a diagonalbrace at the front of the frame, and is secured to the two frontuprights 10 by means of the clamps 88. The top front bar 36 is trussedby means of the collapsible tie-rod 58, having the turnbuckle 59arranged thereon for adjusting said tie-rod to the various lengths towhich said bar may be extended. Clamping units 60 serve to removably andadjustably connect the ends of the rod 58 to said bar 36.

Having described the main framework, I will now describe the means forhanging thereon and for manipulating the various wings. drops, curtainsand lighting devices usually employed on a stage for producing thedesired scenic effects. Each of the rearwardly directed frame members 40has a plurality of bearings 61 thereon, spaced as closely together asmav be demanded by the varied requirements of stage setting. A suitablegu'lley such as 62 is revolubly mounted in each of said bearings (Fig.3). The flexible connection 63, of rope, wire or cable, passes over thepulley and is fastened by means of the portions 63 thereof to theextensible bar Said bar 64 has adjust-- able extensions 65 thereon,removably secured to the main bar 64 by means ofthe reducin nipples 66and the set screws 67, the end of the connecting cable 63 being hitchedto the cleat 47 o-f the bar 42, when the bar 64 has been raised orlowered to the required height. On the bar 64 is attached the curtaindropor other scenery. the scene being shifted 1 1 the usual manner byraising the bar 64, saic scene being set into place by merely loweringsaid through the cable To one of the bars 64 may be hnng. the lightingand retlecti i .68. as by means of the clamps 69. said are 66 beingadjusted into position by securing the clamps 69 at the proper point onthe bar 64. Side reflectors as 70 may be positioned at any point alongthe posts 10 by means of the clamps 71.

When a quick change of scenery is desired, the side wings 72, which. mayhave different scenes painted on the sides thereof, may be quicklyreversed to expose the new scene on the back thereof. The means by whichthis is accomplished includes the pulley 73 which is revolubly mountedon the substantially vertical stud 74:. Said stud is connected to one ofthe bars 40 by means of the clamp 7 5, the wing 72 being secured to thepulley as by means of the bar 77 and a suitable T, the pulley beingturned by means of a suitable flexible connection 76 of rope, wire orcable. Said wings 7 2 may be used to provide exits and entrances in theusual manner, though exit doors may be made in the scenery if desired.

It will thus be seen that the various parts of my improved frame may bequickly and easily put together and taken apart, that it is adjustableto a great variety of sizes, that it is capable of supporting asuflicient number of scenes and lighting devices for a completeperformance so as to provide a complete stage and setting, and that itoccupies little space when collapsed and is therefore readily portable.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adaptedto meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention andas various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, itis to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a portable scenery frame adjustable to varioussizes of length. width and heighth, cylindrical members, and means forremovably securing said members together comprising a V-shaped grippingmember, a T- shaped gripping member, means for reversibly pivoting saidT-shaped member to one end of the V-shaped member to accommodatecylindrical members of various diameters, teeth in both of said grippingmembers adapted to engage one of the cylindrical members, and a singletightening means at the other end of said V-shaped member.

2. In a demountable. portable stage scenery frame having upright andhorizontal connecting members, clamping means for removably fasteningsaid connecting members together comprising a pair of pivoted grippingjaws adapted to be secured to one of said connecting members, and singlescrew means to tighten said jaws, one of said jaw members having aplurality of fixedly spaced pivoting points thereon for adjustment ofsaid clamping means to accommodate connecting members of variousthickness.

3. In a demountable portable stage scenery frame having upright andhorizontal connecting members, clamping means for removably fasteningsaid connecting members together comprising a V-shaped gripping member,means on one end of said V- shaped member for mounting on saidconnecting member, a T-shaped gripping member pivoted to the other endof said V-shaped member, teeth in both of said gripping members adaptedto engage one of the connecting members, and a single means fortightening the clamping means, said T-shaped member having a pluralityof pivoting points thereon arranged to co-act with said V-shaped memberin reversed side relationship for adjust ment of said clamping means toaccommodate connecting members of various thickness.

4. An extensible stage frame pipe member comprising an elongated centraltubular portion uniform in diameter, tubular end portions adjustablytelescoping in said central portion, each end portion beingsubstantially shorter and less in diameter than said central portion,and attaching means on each of said end portions for engaging with otherframe members.

5. An extensible securing frame adapted to form a portable stagecomprising corner uprights and rigid horizontal connecting membersarranged along the length and width of the frame, each of the uprightsand members having a central portion of sub stantially uniform diameter,end portions adjustably telescoping in said central portions, andclamping means terminating said end portions constructed to removablyconnect with either central or end portions of other frame members.

6. An extensible scenery frame adapted to form a portable stage,comprising corner uprights rigid horizontal connecting members arrangedalong the length and width. and adepending scene supporting bar, each ofthe upright members and bar having a central portion of substantiallyuniform diameter, end portions adjustably telescoping in said centralportions. and clamping means terminating in said end portionsconstructed to removably connect with either central or end portions ofother frame members, and means adjustable along said members for raisingand lowering said bars.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM E. PRICE.

